“Man on Fire” is an action-adventure thriller movie where Denzel Washington plays an ex-CIA operative who takes a job as a body-guard for the 9-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman. Events take a rough turn when some lowlife criminals kidnap the girl. Tony Scott (“Crimson Tide” 1995) tightly directed this superior thriller from an excellent screenplay by Brian Helgeland, adapted from the 1980 novel of the same name by A. J. Quinnell.
Exemplary performances by cast members fill this project, starting with Denzel Washington in the lead role. He is a perfect fit here. Co-stars include Dakota Fanning as Washington’s charge, Christopher Walken as his associate, Marc Anthony and Radha Mitchell as the girl’s parents, Mickey Rourke as an attorney, Giancarlo Gianinni as a government official, Rachel Ticotin as a reporter, and Jesus Ochoa as a policeman.
The watchable “Man on Fire” was a bit long with a 146 minute running time; it could have been shortened by 15-20 minutes. It was beautifully filmed on location in Mexico City with excellent cinematography by Paul Cameron. “Man on Fire” was a modest success at the box office for producer Tony Scott, Fox 2000 Pictures, New Regency Productions, Scott Free Productions, and 20th Century Fox.
Man on Fire (2004)
cinema
My Review
“Man on Fire” is an action-adventure thriller movie where Denzel Washington plays an ex-CIA operative who takes a job as a body-guard for the 9-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman. Events take a rough turn when some lowlife criminals kidnap the girl. Tony Scott (“Crimson Tide” 1995) tightly directed this superior thriller from an excellent screenplay by Brian Helgeland, adapted from the 1980 novel of the same name by A. J. Quinnell.
Exemplary performances by cast members fill this project, starting with Denzel Washington in the lead role. He is a perfect fit here. Co-stars include Dakota Fanning as Washington’s charge, Christopher Walken as his associate, Marc Anthony and Radha Mitchell as the girl’s parents, Mickey Rourke as an attorney, Giancarlo Gianinni as a government official, Rachel Ticotin as a reporter, and Jesus Ochoa as a policeman.
The watchable “Man on Fire” was a bit long with a 146 minute running time; it could have been shortened by 15-20 minutes. It was beautifully filmed on location in Mexico City with excellent cinematography by Paul Cameron. “Man on Fire” was a modest success at the box office for producer Tony Scott, Fox 2000 Pictures, New Regency Productions, Scott Free Productions, and 20th Century Fox.